kai-
1. Prefix added to verbs which express some kind of action to form nouns denoting a human agent (i.e. the person doing the action), e.g. kaikōrero (speaker), kaitiaki (guardian, trustee), kaimahi (worker), kaihoko (seller), kaituhi (writer) and kaitito haka (haka composer). This prefix cannot be used with verbs the meaning of which indicates a state, not an activity, e.g. moe and tū. In other words, only transitive verbs can take the prefix kai-. There are exceptions to this rule, notably kainoho (inhabitant). Some of the words created by this use of kai- are listed in this dictionary, but the list is not exhaustive.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 48-49;)
See also kaihoe, porokaihākere
2. (verb) (-nga,-ngia) to drink - used for any liquid other than water.
Ka rīria a Hōne e Apirana he kaha nōna ki te kai waipiro (TTR 1998:184). / John was reprimanded by Apirana because he drank alcohol to excess.
3. (noun) food, meal.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 33-34; Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 35-49;)
He nui te kai: te parāoa, te huka, te tī, te pīkara, te tōhi, te pīwhi, te poaka, me te tini o ngā kai (KO 15/12/1886:8). / There was plenty of food: bread, sugar, tea, pickles, toast, beef, pork, and much more.
See also hari kai
kai
1. (noun) riddle, puzzle, toy.
Synonyms: panga, whakapōkaikaha, pere
kai
1. (verb) to fulfil its proper function, have full play, have full effect.
E whiti, e te rā, e kai ki taku kiri (W 1971:86). / Shine, o sun, have full effect upon my skin.
E kore e mau i a koe he wae kai pakiaka (W 1971:86). / You will not catch feet used to running among tree roots. (A whakataukī stressing the value of experience for success.)
2. (noun) recidivist.
kaitunu kai
1. (noun) chef.
I tipu ake he rakahinonga hou – ngā kaihanga kiriata, ngā kaihanga pūmanawa rorohiko, ngā kaikōpiro waipiro, ngā kaitunu kai me ngā kaihoahoa kākahu (Te Ara 2012). / A new breed of Māori entrepreneur developed – film makers, computer software developers, brewers, chefs and clothes designers.
kai whakatāpaepae
1. (noun) presentation of food to visitors.
Ka rere a Whānui ka tīmata te hauhake i ngā kai; te potonga o ngā kai ka mahia ngā mahi a Ruhanui, koia ēnei: ko te tūperepere, ko te tōreherehe, ko te kai whakatāpaepae, ko te kokomo, ko te tūmahana, ko te kaihaukai, ko te haka, ko te poi, ko te whakahoro taratahi, ko te tā pōtaka, ko te pōtēteke, ko te taupiripiri, ko te mū tōrere, a te whai, a te pānokonoko, o te tararī, a te kīkīporo, a te pākuru, a te tārere, a te kūī, a te kūrapakara, a te rere moari, me ērā atu mea katoa (TWMNT 11/9/1872:110). / When Vega rose the harvesting of the food began; and when that was done the activities of Ruhanui were carried out, which were these: the ceremony and feast to celebrate the storing of the kūmara crop, tobogganing, the displaying of food, the exchanging of gifts between hosts and visitors, feasting and presenting food, performing haka and poi, flying kites, whipping spinning tops, doing somersaults, racing arm in arm, playing draughts, performing string games, playing the pānokonoko string game, playing the jewsharp, beating the time to songs with pieces of wood held against the cheek, playing the mouth resonator, swinging, calling kūī, playing kūrapakara, swinging on the moari, and all those other games.
